San Jose Barracuda defenseman Anthony Bitetto (2) looks for the puck Henderson Silver Knights defenseman #94 Brayden Pachal (right) at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson on Fri Apr 22, 2022 (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)
by Marko Ukalovic
Gage Quinney scored two goals to help the Henderson Silver Knights defeat the San Jose Barracuda 6-4 on Friday evening at Dollar Loan Center.
San Jose continued its franchise worst 14-game losing streak. Henderson has won four games in a row and have 71 points.
Henderson (33-28-4-1) drew first blood late in the first period. Alan Quine received the puck along the right wing. Quine faked a centering pass and beat ‘Cuda goalie Zachary Emond with a wrist shot to the short side for his sixth goal of the season at the 17:50 mark.
San Jose (20-41-4-2) evened the score 39 seconds later. Dillon Hamaliuk sprung Zachary Gallant up the middle for a breakaway. Gallant sneaked a backhander through the five hole of Silver Knight’s goalie Isiah Seville for the first of his two goals at the 18:29 mark.
The Silver Knights regained the lead over a minute later when Gage Quinney poked home a loose puck in the crease for his 10th goal of the season with 19 seconds left in the opening frame.
The Barracuda once again tied up the game thanks to Gallant’s second goal of the game. Nick Cicek fed a pass up the ice to Gallant. The second year forward for the ‘Cuda skated down the left wing and wired a wrist shot from a tough angle that beat Seville for his third goal of the season.
Gannon Laroque earned his first point in a ‘Cuda uniform as he picked up the secondary assist on Gallant’s goal.
Henderson scored three unanswered goals in the middle frame to take control of the game.
Ben Jones redirected a shot from the point by Quine for his 25th goal of the season at the 12:33 mark. Jones has 11 points in seven games against San Jose this season.
The Silver Knights doubled its lead with a short-handed goal less than three minutes later. A turnover at the red line led to a breakaway for Jonas Rondbjerg. The Danish forward beat Emond with a backhand to forehand move for his 13th goal of the season at the 15:45 mark.
Quinney scored his second goal of the game 59 seconds later to put the game away when he cleaned up a rebound off of a Bradyen Pachal shot, his 11th of the season at the 16:44 mark.
Quinney has four games in his five games against San Jose.
Anthony Bitteto gave the ‘Cuda a brief sign of hope when he scored his sixth goal of the season and second with the Barracuda at the 11:11 mark of the third period.
Henderson regained its three-goal lead two and a half minutes later on the power play. Jake Leschyshyn redirected a shot from Brendan Brisson at the 13:50 mark.
Adam Raska made the score look respectable with a power play goal with four seconds left in the game. Raska cleaned up a loose puck to the right of the crease for his fifth goal of the season.
Seville (5-1-0) finished the game stopping 27 of the 31 shots he faced to earn the victory. Emond (3-4-2) made 25 shots on 31 saves in the losing effort.
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-7 on the power play. Henderson was 1-for-4.
The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Quine 2) Quinney 3) Brisson
UP NEXT: San Jose concludes its regular season schedule on Saturday 4/23 at 4:00pm at Dollar Loan Center.
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